Electrolytic hydrogen generating system

Abstract

A hydrogen generating system includes a plurality of conductive plates, a first connector and a second connector, wherein each connector is connected to at least some of the plates, an amperage sensor configured to measure an actual amperage of the hydrogen generating system, and a temperature sensor configured to measure an actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system, and a controller. The controller includes a processor programmed to receive a target amperage, a maximum amperage threshold, a maximum temperature threshold, and an optimal temperature, select, based on the target amperage, certain of the plurality of conductive plates to receive an applied voltage, receive a measurement of an actual amperage and an actual temperature from the amperage sensor and the temperature sensor, respectively, compare the actual amperage and the actual temperature to the maximum amperage threshold and the optimum temperature, respectively, and adjust the applied voltage based on the comparison.

1 . A hydrogen generating system comprising:
 a plurality of conductive plates;   a first connector and a second connector, wherein each connector is connected to at least some of the plates;   an amperage sensor configured to measure an actual amperage of the hydrogen generating system; and   a temperature sensor configured to measure an actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system; and   a controller comprising a processor programmed to:
 receive a target amperage, a maximum amperage threshold, a maximum temperature threshold, and an optimal temperature; 
 select, based on the target amperage, certain of the plurality of conductive plates to receive an applied voltage; 
 receive a measurement of an actual amperage and an actual temperature from the amperage sensor and the temperature sensor, respectively; 
 compare the actual amperage and the actual temperature to the maximum amperage threshold and the optimum temperature, respectively; and 
 adjust the applied voltage based on the comparison. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein adjusting the applied voltage based on the comparison comprises lowering the applied voltage if the actual amperage exceeds the maximum amperage threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein adjusting the applied voltage based on the comparison comprises applying a maximum voltage if the actual amperage is below the maximum amperage threshold and if the actual temperature is below the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is programmed to adjust a duty cycle to enable an average actual amperage to substantially equal the target amperage if the actual amperage exceeds the maximum amperage threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the processor is programmed to select, based on the target amperage, only a quantity of the plurality of conductive plates required to receive an applied voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 5  wherein the quantity of the plurality of conductive plates that receive the applied voltage is based on at least one of the following: a temperature of an electrolytic solution, an amount of voltage applied, a distance between each of the plurality of conductive plates, and a type of electrolytic solution used. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the first connector is configured to be an anode or a cathode and the second connector is configured to be the other of an anode or a cathode. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 7  wherein the processor is programmed to select whether the first connector is an anode or a cathode and select the second connector as the other of an anode or cathode. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a hydrogen generating system having a plurality of conductive plates comprising:
 receiving a target amperage, a maximum amperage threshold, and an optimal temperature;   applying a voltage to at least some of the plurality of conductive plates in the hydrogen generating system;   obtaining an actual amperage and an actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system;   comparing the actual amperage to the maximum amperage threshold and the actual temperature to the optimal temperature; and   adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises applying a maximum voltage for one duty cycle if the actual amperage is below the maximum amperage threshold and if the actual temperature is below the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises computing a duty cycle to increase the actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system if the actual amperage exceeds the maximum amperage threshold and if the actual temperature is below the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises computing a duty cycle if the actual temperature is substantially equal to the optimum temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises lowering a duty cycle if the actual temperature does not substantially equal the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises:
 turning a current of the hydrogen generating system off if the actual temperature exceeds a maximum temperature threshold;   measuring a second actual temperature; and   turning the current of the hydrogen generating system on when the second actual temperature is below the maximum temperature threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises turning a current of the hydrogen generating system off for a predefined period of time if the actual amperage exceeds a predefined maximum safe amperage threshold. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium having instructions recorded thereon that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
 receive a target amperage, a maximum amperage threshold, and an optimal temperature;   apply a voltage to at least some of a plurality of conductive plates in a hydrogen generating system;   obtain an actual amperage and an actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system;   compare the actual amperage to the maximum amperage threshold and the actual temperature to the optimal temperature; and   adjust at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison.   
     
     
         17 . The computer readable media of  claim 16  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises applying a maximum voltage for one duty cycle if the actual amperage is below the maximum amperage threshold and if the actual temperature is below the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The computer readable media of  claim 16  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises computing a duty cycle to increase the actual temperature of the hydrogen generating system if the actual amperage exceeds the maximum amperage threshold and if the actual temperature is below the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The computer readable media of  claim 16  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises computing a duty cycle if the actual temperature is substantially equal to the optimum temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable media of  claim 16  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises lowering a duty cycle if the actual temperature does not substantially equal the optimal temperature. 
     
     
         21 . The computer readable media of  claim 16  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises:
 turning a current of the hydrogen generating system off if the actual temperature exceeds a maximum temperature threshold;   measuring a second actual temperature; and   turning the current of the hydrogen generating system on when the second actual temperature is below the maximum temperature threshold.   
     
     
         22 . The computer readable media of  claim 16  wherein adjusting at least one of the applied voltage and a duty cycle based on the comparison further comprises turning a current of the hydrogen generating system off for a predefined period of time if the actual amperage exceeds a predefined maximum safe amperage threshold.